How To: Pick A Lock

Use the pick/rake to set the pins

The secret behind a lock lies in the key that opens it. The teeth on a key are used to hold the pins in the lock at the right height for their tips to lie on a common plane (the sheer line) and allow the lock to turn and open the door. The pick is used to push each of the pins to the correct height. While applying pressure with your torque tool from the bottom and preventing pins from falling down from the set position, push the pins up to their proper height one at a time with your pick. You will know when a pin has reached the sheer line because the lock will turn a small amount when you twist the torque tool, and for every pin raised it will twist a tad more. As you repeat the process, each pin will be set at its correct height until every pin is in position and you can turn the torque tool all the way around like a key and open the door.

An easier way to pick a lock is to push the pick/rake all the way into the lock with enough pressure to depress the pins, pull the pick out, dragging it over all the pins, depressing them into the correct position on the way out. Just keep raking the pick over the pins while applying slight pressure from the bottom with the torque tool and eventually the pins will click and set into position and the lock will open.

Practice, practice, practice

As the age-old adage goes: Practice makes perfect. Get yourself a practice lock and go at it. As your lock-picking skills improve, you’ll get to know how your pick is interacting with the pins and which ones are set and which ones still need your magic touch. Raking at the pins blindly also works, but like sex without foreplay, it may take longer to get the desired result.

locked and loaded

Don’t get discouraged; learning how to pick a lock is like anything: The more you do it, the better you get at it. Remember: Every structure has its weakness and with this helpful guide on how to pick a lock, you’ll be well on your way to exploiting one of them. Become a master lock picker and, suddenly, coaxing a door open will be much easier than coaxing a woman out of her clothes.